Sam Bennett News

Bennett was forced to miss Saturday's preseason game due to COVID-19 protocol but was back on the ice for Monday's practice session. This is a good sign for his availability for the Panthers' season opener vs. the Penguins on Thursday.

Bennett's career with the Flames did not go as planned but he paid immediate dividends once arriving in Florida. The 25-year-old had 15 points (6G / 9A) in 10 regular seasons games and five points (1G / 4A) in five playoff games. Bennett seems to have solidified the Panthers' 2C role behind Aleksander Barkov and signed for a very affordable $4.4M AAV. Pairing up with Jonathan Huberdeau on the second line should help Bennett have his best season to date in 2021-22.

Bennett was issued a two-minute minor penalty on the play but was slapped with a one-game suspension on Monday. This is a huge loss for the Panthers, who will likely need to lean on Alexander Wennberg more heavily in Game 2. Including Game 1, Bennett has scored six goals with 11 assists (17 points) in 11 games with Florida.

Bennett's absence is probably more maintenance-related ahead of the playoffs. The Panthers called him day-to-day but expect him to be in the lineup for Game 1 of the postseason. Mason Marchment will centre the second line with Bennett out.

Bennett missed the Panthers' most recent game (05/03) but will be back on the second line tonight vs. the Lightning. Bennett has been outstanding since arriving in Florida, scoring five goals with eight assists (13 points) in nine games.

Bennett will not be available for Monday's game vs. the Stars. This is terrible timing for Bennett, who has been red-hot since being traded to Florida. Alex Wennberg will move up to the second line and Mason Marchment will draw back into the lineup to replace him.

Bennett was acquired from Calgary on Monday and will make his Panthers debut tonight in Tampa. Bennett will centre the second line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair on his wings. Bennett has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 38 games this season.

Bennett will sit with Brett Ritchie drawing back into the lineup on Thursday. Bennett has scored just one goal with no assists in his last nine games.

Bennett recently requested a trade and being healthy scratched tonight is likely related to a deal being completed in the near future. With Bennett coming out of the lineup, Dominik Simon will draw back in.

Bennett was sick this morning and missed the game-day skate, so look for Zac Rinaldo to replace him on the fourth line if Bennett can't play.

Bennett missed the last 13 games with a lower-body injury but will play tonight vs. the Penguins. Bennett, who has just three goals and two assists (five points) in 20 games this season, will skate on the fourth-line with Tobias Rieder and Michael Frolik.

Bennett was a late-scratch for Sunday's game in Vegas and now he is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks. Zac Rinaldo was called-up from Stockton (AHL) and will fill-in for Bennett on Tuesday.

Bennett has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but will be back on the third line on Thursday. Bennett has just one goal and one assist in nine games this season.

Bennett will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury but the Flames are hopeful he will play Thursday vs. the Panthers. Even if he does play, the former No.3 overall pick should be left on free agency--he has just two points (1G / 1A) and is playing just 12:40 ATOI in nine games this season.